Shoe-bottom-filling machine



1 930. G. H. MAXWELL 1,743,720

SHOE BOTTOM FILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1,1924

Patented Jan. 14, 1930 warren stares PATENT QFFEQE GEORGE H. MAXWELL, OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR TO NORTH AMERICAN CHEMI- CAL COMPANY, OF'BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SHOE-BOTTOM-FILLING MACHINE Application filed November 1, 1924. Serial No. 747,273.

In the operation of a machine of the type machine being shown in application Serial No. 633,148, filed April 19, 1923, now matured into Patent No. 1,523,701, dated January 20, 1925, and in application Serial No. 656,496 filed August 9, 1923, now matured into Patent No, 1,558,699, dated October 27, 1925, andv in application Serial No. 723,57 filed July 1, 1924),, in which there is an automatic water feed to supply the requisite amount of steam continuously to the filler being prepared and manipulated by the machine in the process of filling shoes, there is a liability that the operator will forget to fill the water tank or that for some other rea son the supply or feed of water will be intermittent. It must be continuous as long as the steam generator is operating. The heat, especially in the electricheated type of machine, is so severe that it would very quickly destroy or seriously injure the machine if the water in the steam generator is not regularly supplied, so that the generator boils dry. My invention aims to minimize or eliminate this danger. full embodiment of the invention I provide an automatic signal both for the sight and the hearing of the operator so that the operator himself will surely see the signal, but

if he should not the operators of adjacent machines on the same floor of the factory will hear the audible signal. Also in the fullembodiment of my invention 1 provide an automatic cutout or switching device which breaks the circuit of the main heater so that the apparatus cannot thereafter be ruined if the operator is slow or negligent in supplying therequisite Water. Preferably also in connection with the operation of this cutout or circuit breaker the water tank is tipped automatically to refilling position or insone' In tne preferred ator to give, the water supply the proper attention. In the drawings ldig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and mainly vertical longitudinal section of one form of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar sectional View enlarged and partly diagrammatic.

The main part of the machine consists of a reservoir 1 containing heat flues or partitions 2 and closed by a cover 8, delivering filler by gravity as disintegrated by the steam and heat which operates at the maximum at the lower front portion l of the res ervoir. The filler is delivered into a workbasin 5 the heat and filler being held normally within the reservoir 1 by a slide door 6, said heat being derived as herein shown from a steam chamber or steam producer 7 di charging its steam through pipe connections 8, 9, 10 into the fines 2 and thence out through the open ends 11 of said flues into the filler. The steam producer 7 receives its heat from an electric heating coil 12 mounted'in a heating chamber 13 below the reservoir and work-basin. A water inlet ll is provided terminating in a sealing cup 15. All the-aforesaid mechanism is the same as in my application Serial No. 683,148 now Patent No. 1,523,701, dated January 20, 1925, above mentioned and it will be understood may have any other construction of this general type of steam or vapor machine.

The automatic water feed for the steam in the introductory part of this specification.

As herein shown I provide a water supply; tank 16 which extends across the back end of the machine and is pivoted at its opposite sides or ends at 17 on fixed brackets 18 only one bracketland pivot being herein indicated. Within the tank is awater outlet pipe 19 and air inlet'pipe 20, the tank being provided with a filling plug 21, The tank pivot 17 is off center, so that when full it will be sure to remain upright. Preferably a counter balancing weight 22 on an arm 23 projecting from the tank serves to bring the tank into any degree of delicate equipoise desired.v Also preferably a plunger 24 and spring 2.5 mounted on a fixed part 26 engage a bracket or lug 27 on the tank with an urge to tip the tank away from the reservoir. Also preferably the tank has an inclined bottom 28 so that when the water gets low in the tank, the further lowering of the water gradually shifts the weight of the contained water to the right thereby cooperating with the spring and the counterbalance 22 (if also used) to bring about the automatic swingingof the tank on its pivots 17 into inverted position. When the tank thus swings and gets into nearly inverted position it strikes a laterally projecting trip 29 and thereupon suddenly operates the electric connection to cut off the heating current from the heater 12 andto turn on a signal light 30 and start an alarm bell 31 ringing all as will now be described. Of course any movement of the tank or of any part connected with it or in it may be utilized for bringing about this safety and alarm condition. In fact the lowering of the water in the feed cup 15 may be similarly utilized but I prefer the construction herein shown and explained in detail.

The trip 29 extends laterally from an arm 32 of a T-lever 33 pivoted at 34 in a switch box 35 and having a contact pin 36 in position to break or make a circuit through contact springs 37 in thecircuit 38, 39 of the heater 12. A much simpler make and break arrangement could be provided but the one herein shown is a well-known cutout device on the market. As shown the T-lever or arm 33 is given an additional quick movement by a toggle lever 40 and its spring 41. As the pin 36 snaps out from the springs 37 it swings to the right Fig. 2 against a contact spring 42 which closes the signal circuit through the wires 43, 44.

In use the operator of course is supposed always to keep a proper supply of water. In practise however it has been found that the average operator frequently forgets about the water supply and that the tank runs empty. In the absence of any alarm or safety provision this soon results in the overheating of the steam producer which oecomes quickly warped or melted and the adjacent parts injured and the operator does not find this out until the filler begins to burn. According to my present invention however none of these bad results can take place as the cut-out cuts oifthe current be fore the water supply has ceased and at the same time introduces the light signal 30 so that the operator if attending to his obvvill at once see the same, the signal light being located at one side of the machine as near his line of vision as convenient, and if the operator is not on his job the ringing of the bell 31 will attract the attention of the foreman or at least of workmen on nearby machines. These danger signals will continue until attention is given to the machine.

As the water falls-in the tank 16 and its weight gets less and less a time is reached when the spring 25 and plunger 24 overbalance the weight of the tank and turn it on its pivots 17 sufficiently to tip the tank. This is facilitated by the inclined bottom 28. In fact the inclined bottom would accomplish this result alone although more slowly. Also the counterbalance weight 22 could be so adjusted as to operate alone but would require too much delicacy of adjustment to suit most factory conditions. So I have preferred to employ the inclined bottom or automatic shifting of the weight of water as it gets low, for the reason that this cannot be tampered with by the operator. My construction is such that it will finally result in the tipping of the tank even though the weight 22 and plunger 24 do not bring about said tipping. As soon as the tank tips or swings over on its pivots it whacks the trip 29 and instantly breaks the heating circuit 38, 39 and closes the signal circuit 43, 44. The breaking or opening of the heating circuit is accomplished through the movement of the parts 29, 32, 33, 36, 37 and the closing of the signal circuit is accomplished through the movement of the parts 29, 32, 33 and 36 aided by the toggle members 40, 41. One advantage of the construction described-is that after the tank has been filled and has been tipped back into operative position the apparatus will not get into running condition without an actual effort on the part of the operator. He must move the lever 32. The idea is to make it positively necessary for him to act before the heating is renewed and the signals cease.

As already intimated my invention is capable of a wide range of embodiments and various sub-combinations of the complete embodiment herein preferred may be usefully employed alone; and I wish it further understood that this application is intended to contain the broad claims covering certain subordinate species disclosed in concurrently filed applications. 7

My invention is further defined in the following claims:

1. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoe-.

bottom filler which is normally slowly penetrativeby heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said'steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water'tank, combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, and a controller actuated by the movement of the tank.

'2. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrat-ive by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water tank, combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move and means actuated by the movement of the tank to operate a signal.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water tank, combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, and means actuated by the movement of the tank to discontinue the heating of said steam generator.

l. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply eservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connectedto deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said water supply including a movably mounted water tank and counterbalancing means for said tank constructed and operating upon the fall of the water in the tank to a predetermined extent, to automatically shift the position of the. tank.

5. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn athigh hcat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water tank'combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, and an electric circuit and circuit breaker adapted tobe operated by the movement of the tank.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam gencrator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic Water supply including a pivotally mounted water tank, combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, and means actuated by said movement to operate an alarm for notifying the operator.

7. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoe- 7 bottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected'to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the'reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a pivotally mounted water tank,

combined with means constructed to operate,

upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, and means actuated by said movement to discontinue the heating of said steam generator upon the movement aforesaid. V

8. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam genera-tor and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said water supply including a pivotally mounted water tank and counterbalancing means for said tank constructed and operating upon the fall of the water in the tank to a predetermined extent, to automatically shift the position of the tank.

9. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for. operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said water supply including a pivotally mounted water tank and counterbalancing means for said tank constructed and operating upon the fall of the water in the tank to a predetermined extent, to automatically shift the position of the tank,said counter-balancing means including an inclined bottom whereby the weight of the water varies in its counter-balancing effect with relation to the pivots of the tank as the water falls in the tank.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slightly penetrative by heat and liable to burnat high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said water supply including a pivotally mounted water tank and counterbalancing means for said tank constructed and operating upon the fall of the water in the tank to apredetermined extent, to automatically shift the position of the tank, said counter-balancing means including a spring actuator normally under compression and tending to actuate said tank on its pivots when the water falls in the tank.

11. In a machine of the kind described, a

v filler supply reservoir for the safe handling pivotally mounted water tank and counterbalancing means for said tank constructed and operating upon the fall of the water in the tank to a predetermined extent, to automatically shift the position of the tank, combined with an electric circuit for the heater and a circuit breaker in the path of said movement of the tank arranged to be operated by said movement to render the heater inoperative.

12. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat-responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied 'l with water, said water supply including a pivotally mounted water tank and counterbalancing means for said tank constructed and operating upon the fall of the Water in the tank to a predetermined extent, to antomatically shift the position of the tank, combined with an electric signal circuit and controlling means for said circuit arranged to be actuated by said movement of the tank to give a signal to the operator.

13. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water tank, combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent to cause the tank to move, an electric circuit for controlling the source of heat, and a circuit breaker adapted to be operated by the movement of the tank to open the circuit and out ofi the heat from the steam enerator and to be operated only independently of the movement of the tank to close the circuit and restore the heater to operative condition.

14:. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the heating and softening of shoe-bottom filler, and a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, combined with a pivotally mounted water sup ply tank for supplying said steam generator with water having construction and operating upon the fall of the water in the tank to a predetermined extent to automatically shift the position of the tank for a useful purpose.

15. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the heating and softening of shoe-bottom filler, and a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, combined with a water supply tank for furnishing water to said steam generator constructed and operating upon the fall of water in the tank to a' redetermined extent to automatically render the tank operative to receive a fresh supply of water.

16. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoe-bottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water tank combined with means constructed to operate, upon the fall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, means actuated by the movement of the tank for automatically cutting off the source of heat from the steam generator and adapted to be operated only independently of the movement of the tank for restoring the heater to operative condition.

17. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling wit-h high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrative by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, a heater for operating said steam generator, and an automatic water supply for maintaining said steam generator supplied with water, said automatic water supply including a movably mounted water tank, combined with means constructed to operate, upon the tall of water in said tank to a predetermined extent, to cause the tank to move, a normally inoperatives signal controller, and a normally operative heater controller, and means actuated by the movement of the tank for automatically rendering operative the signal controller and rendering inoperative the heater controller, both controllers being adapted to be actuated only independently of the movement of the tank for restoring them to their normal positions.

18. In a machine of the class described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrable by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a boiler for delivering heat and vapor to the filler in the reservoir, heating means for the boiler, and automatic means for supplying fluid to the boiler, said fluid supply means comprising a movable reservoir for fluid, said reservoir being so constructed and arranged that as the fluid level falls the center of gravity of the reservoir shifts laterally.

19. In a machine of the class described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrable by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a boiler for delivering heat and vapor to the filler in the reservoir, heating means for the boiler, and automatic means for supplying fluid to the boiler, said fluid supply means comprising a pivotally supported reservoir, said reservoir being so constructed and arranged that as the fluid level falls the center of gravity or" the receptacle and its contents moves laterally and approaches the vertical plane of the pivotal axis of the reservoir.

20. In a machine of the class described, a

filler supply reservoir for the safe handling the reservoir, said actuating means being opposed by the weight of the fluid in the reservoir, the reservoir being so constructed and arranged that as the fluid level falls in the reservoir the center of gravity of the reservoir shifts laterally thereby decreasing the length of the moment arm through which the weight of the fluid acts and permitting the actuating means to move the receptacle.

21. In a machine of the class described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrable by heat and liableto burn at high heat, a boiler for delivering heat and vapor to the filler in the reservoir, heating means for the boiler, and automatic means for supplying fluid to the boiler, said fluid supply means comprising a movable reservoir, resilient means tending to move the reservoir, said tendency of the resilient means normally being opposed by the weight of the fluid in the reservoir, the reservoir being so constructed and arranged that as the fluid level falls the ratio of the moment arms through which the resilient means and fluid weight act, respectively, becomes greater.

22. In a machine of the class described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrable by heat and liable to burn at high heat, a boiler for delivering heat and vapor to the filler in the reservoir, heating'means for the boiler, and automatic means for supplying fluid to the boiler, said fluid supply comprising a movable reservoir, an actuating weight tending to move the reservoir, said tendency of the actuating weight normally being opposed by the weight of the fluid in the reservoir, the reservoir being so constructed and arranged that as the fluid level falls therein the ratio of the moment arms through which the actuating weight and the weight of the fluid act, respectively, becomes greater.

23. In a machine of the class described, a filler supply reservoir for the safe handling with high heat of a heat responsive shoebottom filler which is normally slowly penetrable by heat and liable to burn at high hat, a boiler for delivering heat and vapor to the filler in the reservoir, heating means for the boiler, and automatic means for supplying fluid to the boiler, said fluid supply 7 means comprising a movable reservoir for fluid, said reservoir tending to move in one direction when full and a stop limiting motion in said direction, said reservoir being so constructed and arranged that as the fluid level falls therein the reservoir moves in the opposite direction away from said stop.

24:. In a machine of the kind described, a filler supply reservoir for the heating and softening of shoe-bottom filler, a steam generator connected to deliver heat and moisture to said filler in the reservoir, and electric heating means for operating said steam generator, combined with a tank for furnishing water to said steam generator, a normally closed switch in the circuit of the heating means for the generator, and means for suddenly opening the switch comprising a normally elevated weight which is released and drops when the water in the tank falls to a predetermined level; i

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

GEO. H. MAXWELL. 

